SS Great Britain

Before the advent of aircraft, the only way a country could deploy its army on overseas campaigns was by ship. In the 19th century, Britain had the largest mercantile fleet in the world, which connected the trade routes with the British Empire, as well as the largest navy to protect these sea lanes. The country was continuously dispatching troops to postings in India, Hong Kong and Ireland, which had to be supported with supplies. Then, there were the conflicts such as the Boer War and the Crimean War, which required larger, better-equipped forces.

Ship designers came up with ever-more larger vessels with powerful steam engines to speed up the process. One of these engineers was Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who had a reputation for achieving almost impossible results where others had failed. Many of his projects still exist today and remain in use, such as the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the ‘Box Tunnel’ on the railway link between Bath and Chippenham. It was not just on land that Brunel excelled, his interest also extended to maritime projects and he designed successful vessels, including the SS Great Western, Great Eastern and Great Britain.

Public attraction

The Great Western was launched in 1837, and with a length of almost 252ft and a displacement of 2,300 tons, she was the largest passenger liner in service at the time, making 54 crossings of the Atlantic. She had a mixed service life, which before the end included being used to transport troops and supplies overseas en route to the Crimean War between 1854 and 1855. However, despite her success, she has become overshadowed by the larger and more famous Great Britain (www.ssgreatbritain.org), which survives today and is open as a public attraction in Bristol.

The SS Great Britain was launched in 1843, with a length of 322ft and a displacement of 3,674 tons, making her the largest ship in the world. During her service, she served as a passenger liner and transported emigrants to Australia as a troops ship, before ending her days as a coal transport. In 1886, on what would prove her last voyage, the Great Britain foundered in the Falkland Islands, where she lay neglected and slowly decaying. Then, in 1970, she was salvaged and brought back to Britain, where an extensive preservation and restoration programme saved her for the nation.

Conversion

It was perhaps the role as a troopship during the Crimean War, a role in which she was joined by her sister-ship the Great Western, which is the most interesting period of her service history. This phase of the Great Britain’s history began on the 22nd November 1854, when she returned to Liverpool following a voyage to Australia. The army desperately needed ships to transport supplies and troops to the Crimea and the ship, with its great capacity and good turn of speed, made it perfect for the role. Renamed ‘Screw Steam Transport No187’, she was converted to her new role with accommodation for 162 officers and 1,650 other ranks, with the officers having cabins but the troops being equipped with 1,359 hammocks. In addition, the manifest for her maiden voyage to the Crimea also lists 30 horses and hundreds of tons of supplies, which included 500 tons of 13” shells.

Between 1854 and 1856, the Great Britain transported 44,000 men, hundreds of horses and tons of supplies and equipment. It was not a warship, but for self-defence purposes, she was on occasion armed with some small cannon for protection. On her return trips, the hips transported men returning from the war, including the wounded and sick, with medical facilities and staff carried on board.

Check it out

The site where the ship is today is a purpose-built facility on the quay-side of the River Avon. The visitor centre and dockside museum housed in the buildings display an exhibition of the ship, which covers her design, building and service career up to the time of her abandonment. The story continues with the rescue and restoration, which involved many trades, especially carpenters and riggers who had the traditional skills required.

Descending the stairs to the corridors below decks means visitors can see the kitchens, which have been recreated, plus compare the differences in cabins and how they have been fitted out to reflect privilege. In the engine room, the massive 500hp steam engines, which provided speeds up to 11 knots (13mph), have been replicated to show how they made the ship the first propeller-driven vessel in the world. To fuel these engines, an incredible 1,200 tons of coal was carried. In wandering around the ship, a range of other dioramas have been created, such as the conditions in which army horses were transported and the conditions of the troops themselves.

Back on the open deck, it is an altogether different experience, with room to walk and fresh air, which would have been worlds away from the noisy interior with all the smells. The Great Britain is in a dry dock, suspended on a metal frame, and it is possible to walk down, under the hull, to get a truly impressive view looking upwards. From this angle, the scale takes on a different perspective and reveals it as yet another feat of engineering from the Victorian period.

Most of the history of the Great Britain was founded on civilian trade, with the military side being just a tiny, but no less important fragment of the ship’s service. It was one of many hundreds of ships supporting the Crimean War by transporting supplies and troops over 3,700 miles in some twelve days, an incredible feat for the time. However, she was to return to her role in 1857 by supporting the army on the outbreak of the Indian Rebellion (Mutiny) and transported supplies and many hundreds of men until the end of the crisis in 1858. One of those carried on board was John Pearson of the 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars, who would go on to win the Victoria Cross.

The exhibition will fascinate not just military enthusiasts, but also those who have an interest in the social history of the time. Also, anyone with an interest in marine engineering will marvel at what was accomplished by Brunel which, together with his other achievements, marked him out as one of the greatest engineers in the world and whose legacy set new benchmarks for future engineers.